Dhaka Chaka for diplomatic zone

Twenty air-conditioned buses and 500 rickshaws has been introduced yesterday in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone, a move taken to increase security measures in the area that witnessed Bangladesh’s worst terror attack on July 1. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Haque said: “20 buses have been initially launched to operate in the diplomatic zone and another 20 will join the fleet within a short time.” Earlier, it was announced that the fleet will consist 30 buses. The mayor made the statement at the inauguration programme of the special transport service named “Dhaka Chaka” in front of Gulshan Police Plaza yesterday. Annisul said: “Surveillance system in the diplomatic zone has been changed and the special transport service is a part of it. The rickshaw-pullers have been trained in security, hospitality and emergency measures.” “Among the two routes of Dhaka Chaka, one will commute from Tejgaon-Gulshan Link Road to Banani via Shooting Club, Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2 and the other route is from Banani to US Embassy.” “The bus fare has been fixed at Tk15 for travelling to any destination within the assigned routes,” the mayor added. Earlier, it was announced that both the routes will started from in front of Shooting Club near Tejgaon-Gulshan Link Road. Local Government and Rural Development Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated the special transport service which also includes 500 rickshaws to ply in  the streets of the diplomatic zone. He said: “We had a plan to gradually reduce the number of rickshaws from Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara, but now we have modified our policy and introduced a systematic rickshaw service.” Regarding the rickshaw service, IGP AKM Shahidul Haque further said: “The rickshaw service is one kind of a trial, if it creates traffic congestion, we will change our plan in the future.” President of Gulshan Society ATM Shamsul Huda, also a former chief election commissioner, stated that a clinic would be established for medical services for the rickshaw-pullers. They will also be provided pure drinking water in future. FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad said: “Passengers in the new buses will enjoy several facilities including WiFi and television. Moreover, even if the engine of the bus is turned off while sitting in traffic jam, the air-conditioner will stay on.” “In future, if the city corporation wants four-wheeled human hauliers for short distances it will also be introduced,” he added. As per the new transport system for the diplomatic zone, no bus from the outside will be allowed to ply in Baridhara, Gulshan 2, Banani and Kamal Ataturk Avenue. Apart from the security concerns, the government took the initiative to bring discipline in the transport system of the diplomatic zone.